For starters, they're controversial plus both guys came into the league with amazing talent and long careers with the potential to be the best player ever in their respective positions (WR/PF). During their careers have shown flashes of pure brilliance, but behavior issues have been prevented them from becoming elite.

Couple years ago with was LeBron and Pujols. Both were in their early 20s and already dominating their respective leagues. Both had GOAT potential, and were stat monsters at a young age. Of course since then Pujols has won a couple of championships, while LeBron is still on his journey.

For wahtever reason when Griffey Jr. was in his prime I always compared him to Michael Jordan at the time. He had his own shoe out at the time that everyone was buying...

...he was considered the best baseball player at the time well on his way to being possibly the best ever before the injuries occurred and I always looked at their numbers with Jordan being 23 and Griffey being 24.